Positive feed transfer for pin conveyor

ABSTRACT

A method of and apparatus for transferring flexible tubular articles, such as elongated collapsible tube bodies, from a longitudinal feeding means onto an endless pin conveyor disposed at right angles thereto wherein the articles are positively gripped and transferred from the longitudinal feeding means to the pin conveyor while the latter remains in continuous motion.

United States Patent Him [54] POSITIVE FEED TRANSFER FOR PIN CONVEYOR[72] Inventor: Hans Hirn, lselin, NJ.

[73] Assignee: American Can Company, Greenwich,

Conn.

[22] Filed: Aug. 17, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 64,180

[52] [1.8. CI ..198/25, 198/ 103 [5 l 1 Int. Cl ..B65g 47/00 [58] FieldofSearc 98/20, 22, 26, 25, 103

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,824,414 9/1931 Stein..198/25 [15] 3,655,026 1 Apr. 11, 1972 3,016,153 1/1962 Porterfield....198/25 X 2,300,359 10/1942 Mohan ....l98/25 X 3,300,019 l/ 1967Brigham et a1 198/25 Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk AssistantExaminer-H. S. Lane Attorney-Robert P. Auber, George P. Ziehmer andLeonard R. Kohan [57] ABSTRACT A method of and apparatus fortransferring flexible tubular articles, such as elongated collapsibletube bodies, from a longitudinal feeding means onto an endless pinconveyor disposed at right angles thereto wherein the articles arepositively gripped and transferred from the longitudinal feeding meansto the pin conveyor while the latter remains in continuous motion.

16 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 11 1912 SHEET 1 OF 2 R O T N EV m HANS /l//? IV PATENTEDAPR 11 I972 SHEET 2 OF 2 i VINVENTOR. HANS///1Q/V ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the fabrication ofelongate tubular articles, such as collapsible tube bodies or bodyportions formed from metal, metal-plastic laminates, or of plastic, itis desirable to transfer the same from one forming or handling meansonto a pin conveyor, i.e., an endless chain conveyor having a series ofoutwardly extending narrow-diameter pins which loosely receive thereuponthe tubular articles. Diverse operations are conventionally performed onthe articles while carried by the pin conveyor, such as printing, dryingof coatings, baking, etc., as is well known in the art.

While transfer of tubular bodies onto the pin conveyor is easilyeffected while the conveyor is stationary, it is highly undesirable thatthe pin conveyor be operated in such an intermittent manner betweenloadings. Thus, there is the inherent mechanical difficulty of providinga continual start-stop drive for such a conveyor and while achievingrelatively high output or production speeds. Further, such cyclic motionof the pin conveyor produces highly undesirable wobbling or jiggling ofthe articles loosely carried upon the pins, causing the same to beeasily dislodged therefrom or otherwise disposed improperly upon thepins for further operations.

Accordingly, transfer of the tubular bodies onto the pin conveyor whilethe latter is in continuous motion becomes highly desirable for highspeed output and to avoid the aforesaid disadvantages of intermittentoperation. Continuous motion transfer, however, presents problems ofachieving registry between the infed article and the pin conveyor, aswell as securely mechanically gripping or handling the lightweighttubular articles as they partake of the complex motions necessitated bythe continuous transfer operation.

The continuous transfer of hollow tubular members from diverse infeedmeans onto pin conveyors has been treated by the prior art, as typifiedby patents to Hakogi U.S. Pat. No. 2,796,164 or Remington et al., U.S.Pat. No. 3,066,784, but wherein the aforesaid problems as to registryand positive mechanical handling of the articles are not solved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a simplified andimproved method and apparatus for effecting continuous transfer oftubular articles onto pin conveyors and is chiefly characterized by theprovision of means for positively gripping and feeding the articles ontosuccessive pins and wherein also the positive feeding means ismaintained in synchronism with he pins during the transfer operation.

In this connection the invention includes a rotary transfer turretlocated and interposed between infeed conveyor means for the articlesand the pin conveyor.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a transferapparatus of the type contemplated wherein the tubes are positivelygripped while leaving the infeed conveyor, and remain under positivecontrol until deposited onto the pins of the pin conveyor.

It is a further object to provide a transfer turret whose gripping andfeed means aids in reshaping the flexible body to its desired tubularconfiguration should the same have become slightly distorted duringprior handling.

It is a major object to provide a transfer turret characterized by aminimum of parts thereby improving trouble-free reliability thereofwhile yet functioning in the manner aforesaid.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view ofthe infeed conveyor means, rotary transfer turret, and conveyor;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end elevation, partly in section, of the rotarytransfer turret as associated with the infeed and pin conveyors;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, and,

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the relative position of anadvancing tubular container as it approaches the moving rotary transferturret.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The transfer means A of the present invention isassociated with and disposed between infeed conveyor B and pin conveyorC, and is especially useful in handling elongated and flexible tubulararticles T, such as collapsible toothpaste tube bodies formed ofplastic, plastic laminates, foils, etc. as is well known in the art.

The infeed conveyor B may be of any suitable or conventional formutilized in the production or handling of the elongate tubular bodies T,so long as the same includes a portion or component from which the tubesT are delivered seriatim longitudinally of their axes. In theillustrative embodiment, the infeed conveyor B includes cooperatingpairs of flexible endless belts l2, l2 suitably driven whereby theconfronting runs thereof, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, deliver tubes Tsuccessively therefrom in the direction of the arrow and toward therotary transfer means A.

Likewise, pin conveyor C may be of any form conventional or known in theart, such as those shown in the aforementioned U.S. patents, and whichmay conventionally include an endless chain 14 carrying a plurality oflaterally projecting pins 16 upon which are successively received thetubes T as delivered thereupon by rotary transfer means A.

The pin conveyor 14 may be driven in conventional manner, and includeschannel-like guide rail portions 18 (FIG. 2) on the supporting frame 24which guide and stabilize the runs of the pin conveyor 14 as theyapproach and depart the transfer area. Further, the chain 14 is trainedaround a sprocket 20 (FIG. 3) mounted coaxially with the rotary transfermeans A. Suitable frame-mounted idlers 22, 22 further stabilize thechain as it tracks onto and from idler sprocket 20 in maintaining itssynchronized arcuate alignment with the rotary transfer means A.

As viewed in FIG. 2, pin conveyor 14 and the rotary transfer means Arotate in a clockwise direction, wherein the tubes T are delivered ontothe pin conveyor at or near the nine oclock position, and pass therewiththrough the twelve o'clock position and thence laterally to the right asseen in FIG. 2 along the upper conveyor run.

With more particular reference to the rotary transfer means A, andreferring to FIG. 3, the supporting framework 24 includes a journalbracket 25. Bracket 25 includes a tubular housing 26 within which isreceived a tubular shaft 28. The tubular shaft 28 is conventionallyjournalled as by bearings 30 at opposite ends of housing 26 so as torotate freely therewithin. Tubular shaft 28 intermediate the endsthereof includes a radially outwardly and rearwardly directed skirtedflange 32 which is affixed to the aforesaid pin conveyor sprocket 20.

Tubular shaft 28 at its right-hand end is radially flanged at 36 and issecured as by bolts 38 to an annular turret 40 comprising a portion oftransfer means A, as described more particularly hereinafter.

Disposed coaxially within tubular shaft 28 and supported for freerotation as by bearing races 42 is a turret feed roller drive shaft 44.The feed roller drive shaft 44 at its left-hand end as viewed in FIG. 3,is affixed to a drive pulley 46 which is driven by belt 48 from a primemover 50 (FIG. 2).

At its opposite end, drive shaft 44 has keyed thereto a pair of drivediscs 52, 54 and is retained as by bolts 55. Discs 52, 54 are providedwith radially disposed and confronting annular rows of gear teeth 56, 58(FIG. 1), respectively, adjacent the peripheries thereof.

Turret 40 carried by shaft 28 includes a circumferential series oftubular passages 60 through which the tubes T are fed in advancing frominfeed conveyor B to pin conveyor C. Positive advance of the tubes Tthrough each passage 60 is effected by cooperating concave roller pairs62, 64 disposed adjacent each passage as seen in FIG. 2. Each roller issuitably rotatably journalled at its opposite ends within turret 40 asby bearing assemblies 66. A shaft 68 extends radially inwardly from eachroller and has a small gear 72 secured thereto as by bolt 70. The gear72 associated with each roller 64 is meshed with the teeth on outer disc54, while the gear 72 associated with each roller 64 is meshed with theteeth on inner disc 52. To this end, the mountings for the severalrollers 62 are offset or staggered in the turret 40 in an axialdirection with respect to rollers 64 as seen in FIG. 4, whereby thegears 72 engage the proper disc 52 or 54 without interference from theteeth of the companion disc.

Accordingly, with particular reference to FIG. 1, it will be seen thatas discs 52, 54 are driven by pulley 46 (FIG. 3) at a lower rate ofspeed than the rotation of turret 40 by pin conveyor C, the feed rollers62, 64 will in turn be driven by gear discs 52, 54 in oppositedirections as indicated by arrows in FIG. 1 thereby to positively feedthe tubes T gripped therebetween.

It is important to note that drive shaft 44 in FIG. 3 serves to rotateonly gear discs 52, 54 and does not rotate the turret 40, as shaft 44 isfreely journalled within the tubular support shaft 28 of the turret.

Drive is imparted to turret 40 through its shaft connection 28 tosprocket which in turn is driven by the conveyor chain 14 of the pinconveyor C. It is evident that while drive to pin conveyor C may beconveniently imparted thereto at another sprocket portion thereof, ifdesired, the conveyor C might be at sprocket 20 or by suitable gearingfrom pulley 46 to the tubular shaft 28. In any event, as pin conveyor Cis driven, sprocket 20 will be turned thereby, and through tubular shaft28, the transfer turret 40 will be rotated about and concentrically ofthe feed roller drive shaft 44. The only requisite is, as is evident,that drive shaft 44 be operated at a relatively higher or lower speedthan the turret 40 so as to effect relative movement between gear discs52, 54 and the turret-carried feed roller drive gears 72. It will beseen that precise speed control of the feed rollers 62, 64 is therebyachieved, as requisite for the operating conditions of the apparatus.

It will be seen from FIG. 2 that the conveyor pins 16 are aligned withthe passages 60 through the turret 40. As the turret is in continuousmotion at right angles to tubes T as the latter are advanced from infeedconveyor A, means are provided to facilitate smooth transfer of thetubes into each pocket of the feed transfer turret. As seen in FIGS. 2and 4, the passages 60 of the turret include angled or sloped faces 76on the side thereof toward the direction of rotation. In this manner,and as indicated by the diagrammatic view of FIG. 4, there existsadequate clearance for the tube T as the tube approaches the passage 60which is moving at right angles thereto. Successive relative positionsof the tube T vis-a-vis the passage 60 are seen in FIG. 4 whereby thesloped face 76 provides clearance for the tube until it is eventuallygripped by the feed rollers 62, 64. With this construction, turret 40may be disposed in close proximity to infeed conveyor B therebyminimizing space requirements as well as effecting prompt pick-up andgripping of the tubes.

It will be seen in FIG. 1 that the axes of roller pair 62, 64 are atright angles to the confronting belt runs 12 of conveyor B at the timeof tube pickup by turret 40. This construction provides a furtheradvantage in that any flexure-induced deformation that may have tendedto occur as a result of positively gripping and flexing the tube at lessthan all of its substantially diametrically opposed points, and that mayhave caused the tube to partake of a slightly elliptical cross-sectionin passing along infeed conveyor B will be counteracted by theright-angularly related substantially diametrically opposed relatedsqueeze applied to the tube in passing through the feed rollers, wherebythe tube will be delivered to pin conveyor C having substantially thedesired circular or other cross-sectional configuration.

The operation of the rotary transfer device of the invention is believedapparent from the foregoing. Flexible tubular container bodies T areadvanced in single file by infeed conveyor B, as by being lightlygripped between advancing runs of belts 12, 12. As the same approach thepassages 60 of the revolving turret 40, the longitudinal axes of thesuccessive tubes T and the passages 60 become increasingly in alignment,clearance being provided for initial advance of the tubes T into theturret passages 60 by the inclined faces 76 thereof. As the tubes Tarrive in longitudinal alignment with the axes of the opening 60, theforward ends of the tubes T are positively gripped by the rollers 62,64. The rollers 62, 64 are driven by the gear discs 52, as aforesaidthrough shaft 44.

Accordingly, the forward ends of the tubes T are gripped by the feedrollers 62, 64 prior to full release from the infeed conveyor B, areheld and guided firmly by the rollers 62, 64, and the tubes aredelivered or propelled positively toward and in alignment with thesucceeding pins 16 of conveyor C. The rollers advance the tubes Tdirectly onto the pins 16, effecting full delivery of the same thereonprior to divergence of conveyor chain 16 from its aligned arc of travelwith turret 40 as the chain passes about sprocket 20. The tubes are thenfully supported by the pins 16 and advance for subsequent handling.

While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have beenillustrated and described, it will be recognized that the invention maybe otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of theclaims which follow.

What is claimed is: 1. A transfer device for elongated flexible articlessuccessively handled by first and second continuously driven conveyorscomprising:

a frame, a turret rotatively journalled thereon, means for driving saidturret member in synchronism with said second conveyor so as to be instationary alignment with respect thereto through a portion of theirtravel,

positively driven article gripping and feed means on said turret forpositively gripping and delivering articles to said second conveyor, and

means disposing said turret adjacent said first conveyor to receivesuccessively delivered articles therefrom into said feed means, therebyto positively grip and feed the articles onto said second conveyor.

2. The transfer device of claim 1 wherein said turret has a plurality ofpassages therethrough disposed parallel to the turret axis with saidfeed means disposed in said passages.

3. The transfer device of claim 2 wherein said feed means comprises apair of spaced cooperating driven rollers carried by said turret anddisposed adjacent said passages for gripping and propelling articlesdelivered thereinto.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said rollers are driven by gear meansincluding annular drive gears disposed coaxially of said rotary turret,and means rotating said annular gears at a speed relative to that ofsaid turret, thereby to impart articlefeeding rotation to said rollers.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said second conveyor comprises a pinconveyor whose pins are longitudinally aligned with said passages duringsaid turret synchronism with said second conveyor for reception thereonof the articles delivered to and through said passages.

6. The transfer device of claim 3 wherein said turret is disposedsubstantially perpendicular to the direction of feed of said articles,and,

said passages include inclined surface portions thereof which are angledin the direction of rotation of said turret so as to facilitate lead-inof articles delivered thereinto from said first conveyor.

7. In combination,

a first conveyor for advancing flexible tubular articles longitudinallyin single file,

a second conveyor for receiving said articles upon a series of pinscarried thereby, said second conveyor including a chain carrying saidpins and a sprocket about which said chain is trained, and, means formoving said pins through an arcuate path during a portion of theirtravel,

a rotating transfer device disposed between said first and secondconveyors, said rotating transfer device comprisa turret disposedcoaxially with said sprocket and having means for delivering the same onto the pins of said second conveyor, said positive gripping meansincluding pairs of feed roller means in a circular series and beingaligned with said pins along said path during a portion of said chaintravel about said sprocket.

8. The structure of claim 7 further including a tubular shaft secured tosaid conveyor sprocket upon which said turret is mounted, whereby saidturret rotates in unison with said sprocket.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein said pairs of feed roller means arecooperatively associated, and said gripping means further includes meansdriving said feed roller means, said driving means including a driveshaft disposed within said tubular shaft.

10. The structure of claim 9 further including pinion gears associatedwith each said feed roll, and,

a pair of ring gears carried by said drive shaft, with one of said ringgears associated respectively with one feed roll of each said pair.

ll. The structure of claim 9 wherein said turret includes a circularseries of passages through which said articles are fed,

said gripping means being disposed in each said passage,

and,

said passages being disposed in longitudinal alignment with said pinsduring rotation of the latter about said sprocket.

12. The structure of claim 11 wherein each said passage is enlargedadjacent said first conveyor to prevent interference between saidarticles as the same advance longitudinally from said first conveyortoward said rotating turret.

13. The structure of claim 11 wherein said first conveyor includes meansgripping said articles on opposite sides thereof for advancing thearticles toward said rotary turret, and,

each said feed roll pair is oriented in said turret to grip saidarticles on opposite sides thereof and substantially at right angles tosaid first conveyor gripping means, thereby to counteract any flexuredeformation imparted to said articles by said first conveyor.

14. A method of transferring elongated flexible tubular articles betweenconveyors comprising the steps of gripping an article by means of afirst conveyor at less than all substantially diametrically opposedpoints on said article, delivering said article to a second conveyor, bymeans of a rotating t'ransfer device,

positively gripping and flexing said article by means of said transferdevice while delivering said article to said second conveyor, saidpositive gripping and flexing being effected at points on said articleopposed and substantially at right angles to less than all of thefirst-named points, thereby restoring a desired cross-sectionalconfiguration to said flexible article, and

propelling said positively gripped article toward said second conveyorfor delivery thereonto while said propelled article and said secondconveyor are in synchronized movement.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said articles are delivered from thefirst conveyor in a direction longitudinally of their length, and aretransferred to said second conveyor while moving in a further pathsubstantially perpendicular to said direction.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said articles are gripped at alltimes between said first conveyor and said second conveyor thereby tomaintain positive control thereof.

1. A transfer device for elongated flexible articles successivelyhandled by first and second continuously driven conveyors comprising: aframe, a turret rotatively journalled thereon, means for driving saidturret member in synchronism with said second conveyor so as to be instationary alignment with respect thereto through a portion of theirtravel, positively driven article gripping and feed means on said turretfor positively gripping and delivering articles to said second conveyor,and means disposing said turret adjacent said first conveyor to receivesuccessively delivered articles therefrom into said feed means, therebyto positively grip and feed the articles onto said second conveyor. 2.The transfer device of claim 1 wherein said turret has a plurality ofpassages therethrough disposed parallel to the turret axis with saidfeed means disposed in said passages.
 3. The transfer device of claim 2wherein said feed means comprises a pair of spaced cooperating drivenrollers carried by said turret and disposed adjacent said passages forgripping and propelling articles delivered thereinto.
 4. The device ofclaim 3 wherein said rollers are driven by gear means including annulardrive gears disposed coaxially of said rotary turret, and means rotatingsaid annular gears at a speEd relative to that of said turret, therebyto impart article-feeding rotation to said rollers.
 5. The device ofclaim 3 wherein said second conveyor comprises a pin conveyor whose pinsare longitudinally aligned with said passages during said turretsynchronism with said second conveyor for reception thereon of thearticles delivered to and through said passages.
 6. The transfer deviceof claim 3 wherein said turret is disposed substantially perpendicularto the direction of feed of said articles, and, said passages includeinclined surface portions thereof which are angled in the direction ofrotation of said turret so as to facilitate lead-in of articlesdelivered thereinto from said first conveyor.
 7. In combination, a firstconveyor for advancing flexible tubular articles longitudinally insingle file, a second conveyor for receiving said articles upon a seriesof pins carried thereby, said second conveyor including a chain carryingsaid pins and a sprocket about which said chain is trained, and, meansfor moving said pins through an arcuate path during a portion of theirtravel, a rotating transfer device disposed between said first andsecond conveyors, said rotating transfer device comprising a turretdisposed coaxially with said sprocket and having means for deliveringthe same on to the pins of said second conveyor, said positive grippingmeans including pairs of feed roller means in a circular series andbeing aligned with said pins along said path during a portion of saidchain travel about said sprocket.
 8. The structure of claim 7 furtherincluding a tubular shaft secured to said conveyor sprocket upon whichsaid turret is mounted, whereby said turret rotates in unison with saidsprocket.
 9. The structure of claim 8 wherein said pairs of feed rollermeans are cooperatively associated, and said gripping means furtherincludes means driving said feed roller means, said driving meansincluding a drive shaft disposed within said tubular shaft.
 10. Thestructure of claim 9 further including pinion gears associated with eachsaid feed roll, and, a pair of ring gears carried by said drive shaft,with one of said ring gears associated respectively with one feed rollof each said pair.
 11. The structure of claim 9 wherein said turretincludes a circular series of passages through which said articles arefed, said gripping means being disposed in each said passage, and, saidpassages being disposed in longitudinal alignment with said pins duringrotation of the latter about said sprocket.
 12. The structure of claim11 wherein each said passage is enlarged adjacent said first conveyor toprevent interference between said articles as the same advancelongitudinally from said first conveyor toward said rotating turret. 13.The structure of claim 11 wherein said first conveyor includes meansgripping said articles on opposite sides thereof for advancing thearticles toward said rotary turret, and, each said feed roll pair isoriented in said turret to grip said articles on opposite sides thereofand substantially at right angles to said first conveyor gripping means,thereby to counteract any flexure deformation imparted to said articlesby said first conveyor.
 14. A method of transferring elongated flexibletubular articles between conveyors comprising the steps of gripping anarticle by means of a first conveyor at less than all substantiallydiametrically opposed points on said article, delivering said article toa second conveyor, by means of a rotating transfer device, positivelygripping and flexing said article by means of said transfer device whiledelivering said article to said second conveyor, said positive grippingand flexing being effected at points on said article opposed andsubstantially at right angles to less than all of the first-namedpoints, thereby restoring a desired cross-sectional configuration tosaid flexible article, and propelling said posiTively gripped articletoward said second conveyor for delivery thereonto while said propelledarticle and said second conveyor are in synchronized movement.
 15. Themethod of claim 14 wherein said articles are delivered from the firstconveyor in a direction longitudinally of their length, and aretransferred to said second conveyor while moving in a further pathsubstantially perpendicular to said direction.
 16. The method of claim15 wherein said articles are gripped at all times between said firstconveyor and said second conveyor thereby to maintain positive controlthereof.